This is the sequel to Four Seasons of Loneliness. It will start with Season 3 Episode 3. And follow Fitz's reelection campaign.
They awakened as the sun is rising. They take turns with the shower. She is getting dressed when he comes out, holding the towel around his waist. She puts her shoes on as he grabs his clothes from last night. Luckily, they aren't too wrinkled. They are out of the house half an hour later. She drops him off, so she can park. She kisses him before he gets out of the car. They are the only ones there right now. He nonchalantly walks away.
She enters the office, ignoring him. They are working after all. Its back to be professionalism for them. Before they had ignored each other for different reasons. She for the reason she had left him. He for the fear of being rejected and/or being given the silent treatment. He lets her in. She sits down and waits, seeing that the office is currently empty. She rises when the door opens and she hears his voice. She lets the door close before she addresses him. "Mr. Grant, Sally came to me, as the gala had been winding down. She agreed to your terms. You now only have one obstacle left. And this is how I think you should handle it…" She says and recommends.
After she tells him what she thinks; he takes a moment to take it in and come up with a solution. "Ms. James, if you could go to Ms. Pope, and tell her I need her to come here. " "Don't think that. Its professional, we are going to take your advice." He tells her after seeing the expression on her face. "I also need you to get Langston, Daniel, Hal and don't forget your boyfriend, upon your return." He instructs her. She looks at him with reproach. "Oh, and bring Cyrus as well." He mentions as an afterthought.
She takes her leave. It is still pretty early. Not that this matters, the traffic is ridiculous this morning. It takes her two hours, just to reach a ten mile radius. And half an hour to find a parking space, every place in sight is taken. She gets out, gathering her belongings (purse); before locking and closing her vehicle. 'This so better be worth it.' She thinks as she walks the distance, to reach the building. She trips on a rock she hadn't seen. She lands on her knee pretty hard. "Ow." She groans. She had broken her fall with her hands. She slowly gets up, and inspects the damage.
The front hem of her dress is a little tattered. Her right knee has a bad wound/opening, a lot of blood coming out of it. She has to reach the bathroom and clean it up as best she can; until she gets a hold of a first aid kit. It is the kind of wound that can easily become infected. And her other knee is forming a bruise. It doesn't help that the heel on her right shoe has broken off. She tries to walk as best and with enough dignity as she can manage. 'This day really isn't going well.' It takes her twice as long to reach the floor then it had the other day. She is hobbling at this point.
She stops and takes a breath, ignoring her pain. Once more gathering her dignity. She slowly opens the door, and walks in the business. She sees Olivia with a woman who has her back to her. "I'm sorry. I hadn't realized you had a client." The woman turns around at this point. She thanks Olivia for her help, before leaving. "Are you okay? What happened to you?" Olivia asks concerned. "I fell in the parking lot." She responds. Ashley tells Olivia that Fitz wants to see her. "It's business related." She tells Pope"He will have to wait.I have a client to take care of. You can come if you like." She tells Ashley, putting her arm around Ashley to help her.
The two women enter the building looking for Olivia's client. Olivia opens the door. They enter the room the woman is in, along with nine other people. Mary turns around. And the day has gone from bad to worse for her. Mary has explosives strapped to her. The others stare at Ashley's current state. She has had enough things happen to her today and grabs her phone. "What do you think you are doing?" Mary asks. "Clearly, I am making a phone call." Ashley says. "Hang up." The woman instructs her.
Ashley holds up one finger, ignoring her. "Yes, I need you to hand the phone to you." She tells the person on the other line. "Mr. President, we have a situation." She informs him. She hands the phone to Olivia. "Liv?" He asks. "She says that if anyone shots her; she will cause everything to go off." She informs him. "I will call you back, I am going to see what can be done.I love you, Livvie." He tells her before hanging up.
Ashley refuses to take the phone back. She lets Olivia have it. She knows Ms. Pope is going to need it (as comfort). While, her boss may be coming up with his own plan to save his love, and possibly her. She comes up with one of her own. It will be another failure she will have to pay for, if this gamble fails. She takes a deep breath and releases a sigh. She pulls her gun out of her purse. She cocks the gun, releasing the safety. Her expression belying her panic and concern for the others. "If you try to hurt me, I will push the button." Mary comments. "Well then, I am going to have to call your bluff. FYI, I don't succumb to threats and/or intimidation." Ashley says.
The shot shoots past the woman's shoulder. "I missed on purpose. The next one wont" She says. She is hit from behind and crumbles to the ground, unconscious the next moment. The man drops the object he is holding, unwilling to take the risk of everyone possibly dying. He faces the woman. "You are clearly losing control of the situation, and fast. It's a good thing I knocked her out. I am not going to have some risk all our lives" The governor says. picking Ashley up and tying her arms down. Completely ignoring the concussion she more than likely has. Not caring if she dies (for what she tried to pull).
He goes to the President, insisting he needs to take the call. Handing him the phone. They both walk out into the hall. "Tom." Fitz says. He knows something is wrong, by Grant's tone of voice. "Mr. President? "He questions. "Ashley is with Olivia." The POTUS tells him. He (Tom) has finally gotten a chance to have a future with the woman he loves. And now this has to happen. He (Fitz) doesn't know what he will do, if she (Olivia) dies. He turns to Tom who has become anxious. "I'm sorry, Tom. I had Ashley go to get Olivia, and clearly she accompanied Olivia, as they wound up in this situation. I need to call Olivia back, like I said I would." Fitz says.
Tom shuts down. He has finally got her back, after ten long miserable years. He can't lose her now. There is no way in hell. The speakerphone is put on. He hears Olivia tell him (repeats) that the woman will kill them all, if they shot her. They talk about the cover up. The line goes dead, as she hangs up on him. Fitz starts saying Olivia's name, before screaming for her. And telling her not (to hang up on him). He has been trained to control circumstances like this. "Sir?" He questions. "Go ahead, Tom." Fitz tells him knowing that he will protect and save both of them. He walks out of the room. He makes a beeline for Hal, so he can get a ride. 'Like hell I will let her die after finding her again. '
Olivia is still control of the situation. She has just lied to Mary about Chris. She releases the hug, as Ashley starts groaning. She rushes to her. "Ashley, take it easy." She says, as she helps her. "Get up nice and slow." She instructs. Untying Ashley's hands in the process" What happened? What is happening?" She (Ashley) asks as she is getting her bearing, fighting off the dizziness.
"I hear movement." Mary says right before the SWAT team barges in. The governor is secured. As is Olivia who tries to fight the man who has her; in order to get back inside. They are unaware that another person (Ashley) is in there. Olivia is calling Mary, hoping she can still reach her and Ashley. But unable to call for her (Ashley) before the explosion occurs. The dizziness, pounding in her head, and the desire to throw up are making it hard/almost impossible for her to concentrate. "Um Mary, is it?" She starts. She is able to focus for that fraction of a second. The atmosphere sending a signal to her instinct to survive. "Oh shit." She says before diving for the shelter of the desk. The blast causes the desk to collapse on her.
She starts coughing, due to the dust. She tries to move, and screams in pain. This notifies SWAT that someone is in there. They break down the door, just as he (Tom) arrives. "Olivia, where is Ashley?" He asks. One of the SWAT members bring her out the next moment. She now has a cut on her forehead and her chest (near her ribs). On top of her previous injuries, she is also now unconscious. A gurney is brought to the room, which she is placed on. While another takes Mary away in a body bag. Olivia lets someone take her outside. As he follows and gets in the EMS, holding Ashley's hand. At one point, he kisses it. He lets the EMTs work on her. They are oblivious when he whispers at one point. "You better not damn go and die on me."
She awakens to find Tom holding her hand. And Olivia and Fitz by her side. "Hey, its nice for you to finally greeted us with your presence, Sleeping Beauty." Fitz says with a smile. "How are you feeling?" Olivia asks. She doesn't answer the question. "I could use a vacation. I think I deserve one after what happened today?" They laugh. "Please, not so loud." She begs of them.